HB 1617 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Public Health - Health Innovation Zones - Establishment

HB 1617 establishes "Health Innovation Zones" in Maryland counties to address health disparities. It defines zones as areas with documented health gaps (like high maternal complications, chronic diseases, or low access to care) in communities of color, low-income areas, or immigrant populations. Counties must create incentives for grocery stores, pharmacies, and healthcare providers to locate in these zones, and Prince George’s County must designate specific zones (including the Blue Line Corridor and areas near DC) while seeking additional zones meeting the same criteria. The bill requires annual $5 million state funding starting in 2028 for the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to support these businesses and exempts them from local zoning laws within designated zones.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Public Health - Health Innovation Zones - Establishment → Third - Public Health - Health Innovation Zones - Establishment · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add more sponsors and committee actions, restructure the bill's organization, and modify the language around state funding to include budget limitations. The substantive policy changes include clarifying the definition of health innovation zones and adjusting the mandatory state appropriation language to allow for budget constraints.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing health innovation zones in Prince George's County, but the eligibility criteria for additional zones were slightly reorganized and the state funding requirement was modified to include budget limitations.

TECHNICAL

Added multiple sponsors to the bill and recorded committee referral and adoption actions.

Reorganized the bill structure by moving the 'Be it enacted' language to the top and renumbering sections.

FISCAL

Changed the state appropriation language from mandatory to conditional, adding 'subject to the limitations of the State budget' to the Governor's requirement to fund the Maryland Economic Development Corporation.

REQUIREMENT

Rephrased the requirements for designating additional health innovation zones, moving the criteria from a separate subsection into the main designation language.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

How they voted

103–35

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 142

Mar 10, 2026

D Democratic103

101 Yea 2

98% Yea

R Republican39

2 Yea 35 Nay 2

89% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Rereferred to Health

lower

Mar 10, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (103-35-4)

house of delegates

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

20 primary · 0 co-sponsors